No Jane's, but Smashing Pumpkins shred their way to glory in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH − A dozen songs in at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, the Smashing Pumpkins were rolling.

The alternative-rock icons already had played a few hits, frontman Billy Corgan's vocals came across clear and purposeful, the rest of the band sounded strong, and a light show dazzled without distracting.

But then something unexpected happened: One of the setlist's least-known songs, "Starla," a B-side from the band's 1991 debut album, "Gish," released on a 2011 reissue, kicked the energy level up a notch or two.

Here's where Corgan finally cut loose fully on guitar in thrilling fashion. His fingers shredded away on the strings of that instrument, which he aimed upward like he was skeet shooting. Original bandmates Jimmy Chamberlin on drums, and James Iha on guitar followed his enthusiasm, as the sound built to an explosive finish that brought seated fans onto their feet and had many of them mouthing words like "wow" and "what song was that?"

From there, the energy level never waned, as the Smashing Pumpkins pounded, pulsated and shredded through the second half of a show that included "Stand Inside Your Love" from 2000's overlooked "Machina/The Machines of God" album, soon followed by alt-rock radio hit "Cherub Rock" that got fans' thumbs reaching for their cellphone video buttons.

Around that point, Iha introduced the band, also including bassist Jack Bates, third guitarist Jeff Schroeder and backing singer Katie Cole whose voice got lost in the mix.

In that nasally, angst-ridden voice of his that still works so well, Corgan sang with conviction the "Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness, and cleanliness is godliness," part of "Zero." Then came the beloved "1979," full of mid-tempo chug with that familiar wistful counterbalance, whisking away fans old enough to remember when MTV played music videos.

The grooves got heavy metal-ish on a "Siamese Dream" album cut bearing a title I can't print here. The song reached the finish line with one of Chamberlin's mighty drum rolls.

Early set treats included an acoustic "Tonight, Tonight" with just Corgan and Iha, and song No. 3, "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," featuring Corgan's ominous "the world is a vampire" opening.

A week away from Halloween, the Smashing Pumpkins wheeled out a few skeleton-y scarecrow props as a stage backdrop. A bombardment of lasers added to the intensity and fun.

The Pumpkins did a cool cover of the Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime," turning it into a slow, moody number befitting a Halloween house party.

"Beguiled" began an encore that also brought the gloomy but popular "Disarm," with the familiar line "the killer in me is the killer in you."

Corgan, in his "The Matrix"-like knee-length black cloak, appeared to be in a great mood, thanking fans sincerely for their support, and often flicking souvenir guitar picks into the crowd. Unlike the band's last Pittsburgh show, in August 2018, he didn't reminisce about the group's 1990s show at Community College of Beaver County. Though he elicited easy applause by setting up how bandmate Iha is just like Pittsburgh − forged in steel.

I thought fans got their money's worth Saturday, though some will never know. They didn't show up, or sought refunds at the box office, after news broke earlier that afternoon that co-billed stars of the evening, Jane's Addiction, had canceled their appearance due to an unspecified band injury. There were a larger-than-normal number of empty seats in the arena's upper bowl.

Would have been wonderful, no doubt, to hear fellow alt-rockers Jane's Addiction, with captivating frontman Perry Farrell, sailing through hits like "Jane Says" and "Been Caught Stealing."

Though the show's opener, Meg Meyers, did a commendable job. Melding goth and industrial influences, she and her band got the intensity going from the get-go.

When Meyers mentioned Jane's Addiction couldn't be there, fans began booing. They stopped mid-breath, when Meyers shyly said she had been asked to extend her set by 15 minutes, something she hadn't anticipated, but was ready to give it her best. She pledged to try a few songs she's rarely sung live. With that, the audience cheered and rallied around her, as Meyers entertained alone on stage with selections "Teenagers" and "Monster." Her bandmates rejoined her for a fine cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," the rejuvenated summer sensation sparked by Netflix's "Stranger Things." The Pittsburgh crowd gave Meyers' version ample applause.

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Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Smashing Pumpkins deliver spirited show minus co-headliner